Box for receiving and holding papers



(No Model.)

E. M. STAPLES.

BOX FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING PAPERS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

IJVVEJVT R W? .Attorney WITNESSES 261% W222 ANT FFICE ELIAL M. STAPLES, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX FOR RECEIVING AND HOLDING PAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,782, dated February 9,1886.

Application filed December 8,1883. Serial No. 113,915 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELIAL M. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residingin Springfield, Hampden county,State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes for Papers, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap receptacle for individual or family use, which may be secured in any convenient position wherein the postman may deposit the mail designed for the owner of the box; but more especially the object of my invention is to provide a box or receiver without a lid and free from complications, wherein the daily papers may be conveniently deposited by the news-boy, and'the same be retained in place and protected from the weather until removed; and I attain these objects by the construction shown herein.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device having a paper inserted therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional side View of the device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line a: x of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in the construction.

The construction will be readily understood on reference to the drawings.

The box is made of tin or other suitable material, and has a suitable receiving-opening upon the lower side. A spring, 0, is provided, which is adapted to press against the paper or other matter inserted and hold the same in place.

The construction preferred by me is that illustrated in Fig. 1that is, to a back, a, are secured a shell or part, b, and the roof 0, and to the front or shell b,on the inside,is secured the spring e, having its lower end secured to the lower inner face of the shell and its free end arranged to project upward toward the opposite sides of the shell. I), is curved in cross-section, substantially as shown in Fig. 1; or sides to the box may be formed by striking side portions of the plate at an angle to the front part to form the front and sides of the receptacle, the edges of the piece so shaped being secured to the back a a short distance in from the edges, leaving a flange, d, through which tacks. or screws f pass to hold the device in place.

The separate spring may be dispensed with and the front or back bent inward, forming a contracted opening, and operate to hold the inserted material in place, and any form of roof may of course be used; or the shell I), forming the front and sides, provided with any form of roof, and havinga sulitable retaining-spring, may be secured against the side ofa building, the building thus forming the back, and the beneficial result be thus attained without departing from my invention.

It will also be seen that the form of the retaining-spring may be greatly varied. I do not, therefore, limit myself to the particular construction shown.

I am aware'that bill and letter files have heretofore been made having a retainingspring, as shown in United States Letters Patent Nos. 140,177 and 101,130, and I make no claim to the construction therein shown.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A mail-box for papers, consisting of the shell or box I), having a closed upper end and an open lower end, and a holding-spring, e, having its lower end secured to the lower inner face of the shell and its free end arranged to project toward the opposite side of the shell, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

ELIAL M. STAPLES.

Witnesses:

ALLEN WEBsrER, L. A. CHAPIN.

The front piece, 45 

